On July 26, 1878: In California, the poet and American West outlaw “Black Bart” made his final clean getaway, stealing a safe box out of a Wells Fargo stagecoach. The empty box was later found containing only a poem, penned by Bart.
Here I lay me down to sleep
to wait the coming morrow,
Perhaps success, perhaps defeat
And everlasting sorrow,
Yet come what will, I’ll try it once,
My conditions can’t be worse,
And if there’s money in that box,
‘Tis money in my purse.